Road vehicle



July 12, 1932. R. B. FAGEOL I ROAD VEHICLE Filed July 17. 1922 7Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

g ROLL/E 5'. 1776201 @Jmw - ATTORNEYS.

WITNESS.

R. B. FA GE ROAD VEHICLE Filed July 17. 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 I -lii;

IN VEN TOR.

ROLL/E a, FJGiOL Maw /@ A TTORNEYS.

iilillll R- 3- FAGEOL ROAD VEHICLE Filed July 17. 1922 7 ShGG tS- Sheet3 INVENTOR.

) ROLL/E ELI'HGZ'OL,

' ATTORNEYS.

Y July 12, 1932.

R. FAGEOL ROAD VEHICLE Filed July 17. 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Qrill/14911114 ,ll/Il/l/ 1/11/1111 IN V EN TOR.

ROLL/E E. FIGEOL. 7 BY an 4;, ATTORNEYS. I

R. B. FAGEOL July 12, 1932.

ROAD VEHICLE Filed July 17. 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. EOLZ/L B. fAGEOL 4;. ATTORNEYS.

WITNESS.

July 12, 1932. B; FAGEOL 6 1,866,637

ROAD VEHICLE 7 Filed July 17. 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. ROLL/E E.MGEOL.

WW WITNESS. I ATTORNEYS.

July 12, 1932. R. B. FAGEOL 1,856,637

iiOAD VEHICLE Filed July 17. 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 M R W W W m? Q NWMN/ Q HQ.

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' reamed July 12.1932 y UNITED mu RPATENT OFFICE noun: 3. reason,oroaxmma, carnoama MAD VEHICLE Application fled July 17,

vide means for simultaneously and oppositely swinging the drivingaxles'to cause the wheels I thereon to make a turn without dragging.

Another object of-the invention is to provide an improved form of springsuspension which provides easy riding qualities.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which, withthe foreoing, will beset forth at length in the folowin description,where I shhll outline in full, t at form of the invention which I haveselected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming artof the presentspecification. In said rawings I have shown one embodimentof my invention, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myselfto such form, since the invention, as set forth in the claims, may beembodied in a plurality of forms.

Referring to said drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a truck embodyingmy invention. 0 0

Fig.2 is a plan view of the truck shown in Fig. 1. a Fig. 3 is a planview, on a larger scale,'of

the rear end of the truck.

Fig. 3. r

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 3.

Fig.6 is a section taken on theline'6-6, Fig.3. v

Fig. 7 is a section taken on' the line 7-7, Fig. 4. Y

Fig. 8 isa. section taken on the line 8-8, Fig. 7. r to Fig. 9 is anelevation of the front end of of the rearwheels throng angle with res ctto the frame of'the ve- Fig. 4 is a sectiontaken onthe line 4-4,

lower leaf springs 21-22 are clampe 1m. Serial 80. 515,500.

the truck, parts of the structure being omitted to disclose theconstruction.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the front end of the truck chassis, showingthe steering mechanism. a

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the 11-11,

Fi 12 is a diagrammatic representation showmgthe relative positions andpaths of travel of the wheels on making a turn. an

In the drawings I have shown the invention embodied in an eightwheeltruck having two axles at the front, on which are arranged, twopairs of. steering wheels and having two drivin axles at the rear onwhich are ,arll rangef two pairs of driving wheels. While the inventionis particularly applicable to a truck of this character, it is to beunderstood that it is not limited to such ap lication, sinceit may beembodied in a true having one pair of front wheels. It has been roposedheretofore, to connect the rear, or ri ing wheels of a truck with thefront or steering wheels, so that on making a turn, the rear wheels willfollow in the path of the front [5 wheels, or in other words, so thatall of the wheels will track. This re uires the turning a considerablehicle. I have ound that perfectly satisfactory results can be obtainedby turning the rear wheels only suificiently to eliminate the drag onturning. This I accomplish byarranging the steering mechanism, so thatthe vehlcle turns about a center lying in a line' perpendicular to theframeof the vehicle at a oint midway between the two driving ax es, asshown in Fig. 12.

The truck comprises a suitable frame 15 upon which is mounted thepropelling engine or motor. At its front end, the frame is rovided witha transverse shaft 16 disposefbelow the frame and suitably supported inbrackets 17- secured to and depending from the frame. The front springsare journalled 06 at their centers on said shaft and are free tooscillate in a vertical plane about said shaft. Journalled on the shafton each side of the frame, is a block 18, to which the u'gper andattheir m centers, by the U.-bo1ts 23. The springs are attached at theirends, to brackets 20, secured to the axles 24-25 by ball or universaljoints, the upper spring 21 being attached to the brackets above theaxles- 2425 and the the axes of the spindles lie in the same hori zontalplane as the axis of the shaft 16, thereby permitting the spring andaxle. assembly to rock freely on the shaft, without causing any fore andaft rocking of the assembly. v

The front wheels 27 are interconnected by steering mechanismcontrolledor actuated by the hand wheel 28. The hand wheel is connectedthrou h the usual steering column mechanism with the lever 29. Journalled on a bracket secured to the frame and disposed above the shaft16,- is a lever 31, which stands vertical when the vehicle is travellinga straight path, and the fulcrum of which is disposed in the verticalplane of the axis of the shaft 16. The upper end of the lever 31, isconnected to the lever 29 by the drag link 32 and the lower end of thelever 31 is connected to the steering arm 33 of the front wheel 27 bythe drag link 34. The axis of the connection between t e lever 31 andthe drag link'34 is concentri with the axis of the shaft 16, so that thero ing of the spring and axle assembly about the shaft 16, will notcause deflection of the steering wheels. The steering arm 33'is providedwith an integral extension 35 to which a reach rod 36 is connected, theother end of the reach rod being connected to the steering arm 37 of thefront wheel 27". The steering arm 33 is provided with another extension,at the free end thereof, which is connected by the drag link 38, withthe steering.

arm 39 of the wheel 27 and this steering arm is connected to thesteering arm 41 of the wheel 27 by the reach rod 42. In so far as thestructure heretofore described, is concerned, the steering column mightbe arranged so that the mechanism therein-was directly connected to thelever 31, thus eliminating the use of lever 29 and link 32, but theconstruction shown is preferable, when means are employed for steeringthe rear or driving wheels of the truck.

The truck is driven by the four driving wheels 42 42"42-42 secured todrive axles disposed within the axle housings 43-44. Disposed midwaybetween the axle housings and supported-on brackets 45 depending fromthe truck frame, is a transverse shaft 46 on which the driving truck isjournalled. Each axle housing is provided,

adjacent each end, with a spherical or zone shaped bearing element 47,on which is 0111"- nalled a spring hanger 48 havinfila com lementallyshaped seat, so that the anger as a universal motion with respect to thehousing. The h'angers, depend from the housings, and carry the ends ofthe rear leaf springs 49,t here being one spring on each side of thetruck and each spring connecting the two hangers on the one side of thetruck. Secured to the center of each spring, midway between the axlehousings, is a journal box 51, rotatably mounted on the transverse shaft46. The load on the rear wheels is thus hung from theaxle housings insuch manner that the frame may swing with respect to the axle housings.The spring hangers 48 and the springs, are constructed, so that with anormal load on the truck, the axes of the drive axles and the transverseshaft lie in the same horizontal plane, thus permitting the axle andspring -assembly to rock freely on the transverse shaft withoutsubjecting the assembly to a fore and aft motion. Either axle may beelevated or depressed, due to irregularities in the road, withoutsubjecting the whole assembly to bodily motion, as occurs when thetransverse shaft is disposedin a plane above the axes of the axles.

The rear axle housings are normally parallel to each other andperpendicular to the frame of the truck, but due to the swivelledconnection between the ends of the springs and the axle housings, theaxles may be moved so that they lie at acute angles to the frame,

thus turning the rear wheels slightly. Meansare provided for varying theangular relation of the axle housings to the frame and this means ispreferably connected to the front wheel steering mechanism, so that therear axles are turned simultaneously with the front wheels. The rearaxles are turned oppositely, that is, when one rear axle turns in aclockwise direction, the other turns in a counter-clockwise direction.

Slidably mounted on the transverse shaft 46, is a sleeve 53 which'isprovided with end flanges 54. Fulcrumed on the vehicle frame is a bellcrank lever 55, which is connected atone end to the sleeve 53 and at theother end to the front wheel steering gear, by a rod 56, connected'inthe present construction, to

the lever 29. The leverage of the connection between the steering gearand the rear axles, is such that the rear wheels are turned through alesser angle than the front wheels.

Journalled on the sleeve 53 are four collars 616263-64, the collarsbeing arranged in contact and between the end-1 flanges 54, so that theyare not movable longitudinally with respect to the sleeve. Each collaris provided with an car 60 having'a bolt hole therethrough, which standsvertically when the truckis normally loaded; The

axes of the bolt holes in collars '61 and 62 lie in a vertical planeparallel to the longitudinal axis of the truck and the axes of the boltholes in the collars 63 and 6! lie in a vertical plane parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the truck and spaced from the plane of the otherbolt holes. The collars are connected P to the axle housings on oppositesides of the centers thereof, "by longitudinally rigid links which serveas toggles-to move adjacent ends of the two axle ousings in op itedirections. as the sleeve 53 is moved ongitudinally and thus vary theangle of the axle housings with respect to the longitudinal axis of thetruck. One side of the axle hous-, ing 43 is connected to the collar63--by the torque rod or link- 65 which is provided on its ends withclevises which are connectedrespectively tothe collar 63 and the axlehous ing 43 by vertically disposed pivots, The

- link is formed in two parts, rotatable, but not movable longitudinallywith respect to each other. The rotational movement permits the axle toassume varying inclinations in the vertical plane, with respectto theframe of the truck. The clevis 67 rotatably receives the rod, which isprovided on opposite sides of its bearing in the clevis, with nuts 68,which prevent it from moving longitudinally in the clevis. The link 65is therefore rigid longitudinally, permitting it to act as a torque rodand tovary the inclination of the axle housing with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the'vehicle.

The other end of the axle housing 43 is connected t the collar 62 by aradius rod 69, which i connected to the collar and to the axle ho ingiii the .same manner as the torque ro 65 and is of the same constructionas the torque rod, with the exception that it is provided intermediateits ends, with a horizontal hinge 71 which permits the rod to buckleslightly as the axle housing assumes varying angular positions in thevertical plane. By providing the hinge joint in one of the rodsconnected to the axle housing, the axle housing 'isfreeto assume varyingangular positions in the vertical lane, due to road irregularities,regardless o .ihe angular position of the houslng in the horizontalplane. a

The axle housing44 is similarly connected to the collars'fil and 64respectively, by the torque rod 72 and the radius rod 7 3, these rodsbeing disposed oppositely to their arrangement in respect to axlehousing 43. This places a torque rod and a radius rod on each side ofthe vehicle. As the sleeve 53 is shifted toward the right, the axlehousings are separated on the right'side of the vehicle and drawntogether on the left side, so that both axle housings are simultaneouslymoved to assume equal and opposite angular positions with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the vehicle. The sleeve is normally in centralposition, so that the axles are parallel and the wheels travel instraight paths. Move- 55 ment of the sleeve t6 either side of itscentral position causes the angles'of the wheels to be the vehicle, sothat they travel along a different circle than the front wheels.

I By suspendingthe load from the rear axle housings on a bracket whichvis universallymovab e with respect to the housings, the housings 'may bemoved suficiently to obtain the; dlesired inclination of the wheels. ca1m pair of axles arranged ad acent the front end 7 of. the frame,steering wheels on said axles, a pair of. driving axles arrangedadjacent the rear end of the frame, driving wheels on said axles,hangers universally mounted onsaid rear axles and depending therefrom,

said hangers and pivotally connected at their centers to said vehicleframe and means connected tothe steering gear'of the vehicle for varyingthe angular with respect to the vehicle. v

2. The combination with a road vehicle frame of a driving truckcomprising two driving axles, springs connected at their ends to saidaxles to :permit movement of the axles ina horizontal planewithlre'spect to the sprin ends, a transverse shaft carried by said rameupon which said springs are journalled at their centers andnon-extensible toiique rodsconnecting said shaft with said ax es.

3. The combination with a road vehicle frame of a drivingv truckcomprising two driving axles, springs connected at their ends to saidaxles to permit movement of the axles in" a horizontal plane withrespect to the spring ends. atransverse shaft carried by said frame uponwhich said springs are journaled at their centers andnon-extensible-torque rods and radius rods connecting said shaft withsaid axles.

4. The combination with a road vehicle frame of a driving truckcomprising two driving axles, springs connected at them ends to saidaxles to permit movement of the axles in a horizontal plane withrespect'to the springends, a transverse shaft carried by said frame uponwhich said springs are 'ournalled at their centers, a sleeve sli ablymounted on said shaft and a plurality of rods connecting the sleeve witheach axle.-

5. vThe combination with a road vehicle frame of a driving truckcomprising two driving axles, springs connected at their ends to saidaxles to permit movement of the axles in a horizontal plane with respectto ongitudinal axis of the permitthevehi'cle to make the-turn 1. A roadvehicle'com rising a frame,' 'a

springs pivotally connected at their ends to position of the rear axlesthe s ring ends, a transverse shaft carriedby.

,the axles on opposite sides of the center.

" "thereof with said sleeve.

6. The combination with a road vehicle frame of a driving truckcomprising two driving axles, springs connected at their ends to saidaxles to permit movement of the axles "in a horizontal plane withrespect to the spring ends, a transverse shaft carried by said frameupon which said springs are ]ournalled at their centers, a sleeveslidably .mounted on said shaft and a radius rod connecting each axlewith the sleeve.

7 Thecombination with a road vehicle frame of a .driving truckcomprising two driving axles, springs connected at their ends to saidaxles to permit movement of the axles in a horizontal plane with respectto the spring ends, a transverse shaft carried by said frame upon whichsaid springs are journalled at their centers, a sleeve slldably mountedeach axle with the sleeve.

8. The combination with av road vehicle frame of a driving truckcomprising two driving axles, springs connected at their ends to saidaxles to permit movement ofthe axles in a horizontal plane with respectto the spring ends, a transverse shaft carried by said frame upon whichsaid springs are journalled at their centers, a sleeve slidably mountedon said shaft and a plurality of diverging rods connecting the sleevewith each axle.

9. The combination with a, road vehicle frame of a driving truckcomprising two driving axles, springs connected at their ends to saidaxles to permit movement of the axles in a horizontal plane with respectto the spring ends, a transverse shaft carried by said frame upon whichsaid springs are j'ournalled at their centers, a sleeve slidably mountedon said shaft, collars rotatably mounted on said sleeve and a pluralityof rods connecting the collars with the axles.

10. The combination with a road vehicle frame of a driving truckcomprising two driving axles, springs connected at their ends to saidaxles to'permit movement of the axles in a horizontal plane with respectto the spring ends, a transverse shaft carried by said frame upon whichsaid springs are journalled at their centers, a sleeve slidably mountedon said shaft, collars rotatably mounted on said sleeve, a plurality ofrods connecting the axles at spaced points with no said collars andmeans for moving the sleeve longitudinally.

11. The combination with a road vehicle frame ofa driving truckcomprising two driving axles, springs connected at their ends to saidaxles to permit movement of the axles ably on said shaft and a torquerod connecting in a horizontal plane with respect to the sprin said rameupon which said springs are 'ournalled at their centers, a sleeve slidmounted on said shaft, collars rotatably mounted on said sleeve, androds ivoted to said axles at spaced points b vertical pivots andconnected to said col ars by vertical pivots.

-12. The combination with a road vehicle frame of a driving truckcomprising two driving axles, springs connected at their ends to saidaxles to ermit movement of thefaxles in a horizonta plane with respectto the spring ends, a transverse shaft carried by said frame upon whichsaid springs are ournalled at their centers, a sleeve slidably mountedon said shaft, collars rotatably mounted on said sleeve, and torque rodsconnectin said axles and said collars.

13. he combination with a road vehicle frame of a driving 'truckcomprising two driving axles, springs connected at their ends to saidaxles to permit movement of the axles in a horizontal plane with respectto the spring ends, a transverse. shaft carried by said frame upon whichsaid springs are journalled at their centers, a sleeve slidably mountedon said shaft, collars rotatably mounted on said sleeve, rods connectedto said collars by vertical pivots connected to said axles at oppositesides of the center thereof, by vertical pivots and means for slidingthesleeve on the shaft to vary the angular relation of the axles.

14. The combination with a road vehicle frame of a driving truckcomprising two driving axles, springs connected at their ends to saidaxles to permit movement of the axles in a horizontal plane with respectto the spring ends, a transverse shaft carried by said frame upon whichsaid springs are journalled at their centers, a sleeve slidably mountedon said shaft, four collars rotatably mounted on said sleeve, a rodconnected to each collar by a vertical pivot, and connected at theirother ends to the said axles at opposite sides of the center thereof byvertical pivots, there being two rods connected to each axle, and meansfor moving the sleeve longitudinally of the shaft to vary the angularrelation of the axles.

15. The combination with a road vehicle frame, of a driving truckcomprising two driving axles, hangers moulited ,on said axles forumversal movement with respect thereto depending from said axles,springs pivotally connected at their ends to said hangers, a transverseshaft carried by said frame-upon which the springs are journ-alled attheir centers, a sle ve mounted on said shaft, rods connectingt e sleevewith the axles on opposite sides of the centers thereof and means formoving the sleeve longitudinally to vary the angular relation of theaxles.

ends, a transverse shaft carried 'by' ably I 16. The combination with'aroadg-vehicle frame, of-a driving truck comprisin twoaxles, hangersmounted on'sai axles for umv'ersal movement with depen from said axles,springs pivotally connecte at their ends. to said h transverse shaftcarried by said frame upon which the springs are journalled at theircenters, a sleeve mountedon said shaft, diverg-' ing torque rodsconnecting the sleeve with the axles and means for movin lo "tudinallyof e axles.

17. The combination with a road vehicle frame, of a driving truck comprisin two driving axles, hangers mounted on sai axles for umversalmovement with respect thereto dependin from said axles, springspivotally connecte at their. ends to said hangers, a transverse shaft,carried by said frame upon which the springs are journalled at theircento vary the angu ar relation I ters, a sleeve mounted on said shaft,collars rotatably mounted on said sleeve and torque for universalmovement with respect thereto rods connectin the collars and the axles.

18. The com ination' with a road vehicle frame, of a driving truckcomprising two driving axles, hangers mounted on said axles dependingfrom said axles, springs pivotally connected at their ends to saidhangers, a transverse shaft carried by said frame upon which the springsare journalled at their centers, a sleeve mounted on said shaft, collarsrotatably mounted on the sleeve, and rods connected to the collars byvertical pivots and connected at their other ends to the axles atopposite sides of the center thereof, by vertical pivots.

19. The pombination with a road vehicle frame/ of a driving truckcomprising two driving axles, hangers mounted on said axles for umversalmovement with respect thereto and depending from said axles, springspivotally connected at their ends to said hangers and a transverseshaft-carried by the frame upon which the springs are journalled attheir centers, the shaft being normally dlS- posed substantially in thehorizontal planeof the axles.

20. The combination with a road vehicle frame, of a driving'truckcomprising tw'o" driving axles, hangers rotatably mounted on said axlesand depending therefrom; springs pivotally connected at their ends tosaid hangers and pivotally connected at their centers to the vehicleframe in the horizontal plane of the axles.

' axles and depending therefrom, springs pivotally connected at theirends to said hangers, and trunni'ons carried by the frame substantiallyin a plane comprising theaxles on which I respect thereto s eathe sleeve-.wheels secured to said axles,

springs are pivotally mounted at theircente I 3 22. The combination witha 'road vehicle frame, of a truck com rising two driving axles, asierical bearing at each 10 end of each axle, a angerjournalled on eachbearing and depending from the axle, and a spring on each side of thevehicle, the ends of the springs being pivotally connected-to saidhangers. 23. The combination with a road vehicle frame, of a drivingtruck comprisin two driving axles, hangers mounted on sai axles forun1versal movement with res ct thereto, sprm said angers, a transverseshaft secured to said frame, said springs being journalled at ,theircenters to said shaft and means connecting, the shaft andthe axlesoperative to prevent rotational movement of the axles and I to vary theangular'relation of the axles with pivotally connected at t eir ends to80 spring; means comprising hangers, each connected to an axle at 'oneend by a universal joint and pivoted :tothe spring at its other end forsuspending opposite ends of said spring from and substantially below thelevel of said axles in a manner to permit limited as universal movementof said spring with relation to said axles; a trunnion member subportedon the mid portion of said spring; anda frame pivotally supported fromsaid trunnion member. 4

25. A road vehiclev comprisin parallel axles, wheels supported on saiaxles, a frame, a spring suspension secured to said frame and connectedto said axles by arms each having a universal connection with an axleand a pivotal connection to a spring that permit the shifting of oneaxle angularly relative to the other and means to shift said axlesangularly with respect. to each other.

26. A road vehicle comprising a frame, a plurality of forwardly disposedaxles, dirigible wheels on said axles, a'plurality of rearwardlydisposed axles, non-dirigible said last named" axles being secured tosaid frame by spring suspensions that permit slight relative angularmovement of said axles, and steering mechanism for simultaneouslyoperating said dirigible wheels and shifting the axles having thenon-dirigible wheels. secured thereto.

27. 'A road vehicle having tandem driven axles secured to the vehicleframe by springs so that slight angular shifting of the axl w ispermitted, wheels on said axles, steering mechanism, dirigible wheels,means con'necting said steering mechanism and said dirigible wheels, andmeans coupling sai d steering mechanism and said driven axles, said last'named means comprising mechanism causing the drivenjaxles to rotateslightly op posite rotative directions upon actuation of said steeringmechanism.

28. A road vehicle havin tandem driven axles secured to the vehicle rameby springs attached to the axles by swinging arms that permit slightangular shifting of the axles, wheels on said axles steering mechanism,means connecting said mechanlsm and axles comprising mechanism causingsaid axles to rotative d1rec-.

rotate slightly in opposite time upon actuation of said steering mechamsm.

29. In a vehicle suspension of the character described, a main frame; apair of interspaced axles disposed below the frame; springs interposedbetween the ends of the axles and the frame; pivotal connections betweenthe springs and the axles; a pair of wheels on each axle; means wherebythe axles may be moved towards each other on one side of the frame andaway from each other on the other side of the frame; said meanscomprisinga stationary member secured transversely of the frame; acrosshead member slidably mounted thereon; a pair of radius armsinterposed between each axle and the crosshead member and connected withthe respective axles and the crosshead member;

and means for importing a sliding movement to the crosshead membertransversely of the frame.

30. In a multi-wheel road vehicle, a frame; dual axles adjacent one endof said frame; and a spring suspension assembly for mounting said frameu on said axles; said assembly comprising a spring member, meanspivotally connecting said member to said frame for movement in avertical plane, means flexibly supporting the free ends'of said springmember upon said axles to permit free transverse movement of the lattertoward and from each i other as said s rin member deflects during mentin a vertical plane, dual axles supporting the free ends of said springmember in a manner to permit said axlesto move transversely toward andfrom each other as said spring member changes in length, and a set ofarms connected between said axles and said frame to stabilize thesuspension and to tgansmit any axle torque reactions to said ame.

3 2. In the vehicle construction defined in clalm {51, said set of armscomprising a pair of radius arms connected between said axles 'andpoints on the frame approximately at the line of the axis of springoscillation, and

a pair of torque arms connected between said axles and a portion of theframe substantially midway between the axles.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand. A

ROLLIE B. FAGEOL.

